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Fédération Cynologique Internationale

The Kennel Club

Great Gascony Blue

(Grand Bleu de Gascogne)

Grand Bleu De Gascogne

ORIGIN

:

FCI

France.

PUBLISHED

:

FCI

24.01.1996.

KC

October 2009

UTILISATION

:

FCI

Scenthound used for hunting with the gun and sometimes for coursing big game, but also hare hunting, generally in a pack or individually as a tracking hound.

CLASSIFICATION

:

FCI

Group 6

Scent hounds and related breeds

Section 1.1

Scenthounds, Large-sized Hounds

With working trial

KC

Hound

TRANSLATION

:

FCI

Mrs. Peggy Davis.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY

:

FCI

He is of a very old breed; contemporary of the St.Hubert-Hounds he composed, in the 14th century, the packs of Gaston FEBUS, Comte (count) de Foix who used him to hunt the wolf, the bear or the boar. Very widespread in the South (midi) and South-West of France, particularly in Gascony, from where he takes his name; he is at the origin of all the scenthounds named « from the South » (du midi).

GENERAL APPEARANCE

:

FCI

Ancient breed of dog, of outstanding French type when it comes to the head, the coat and the expression. Imposing, giving an impression of calm strength and of great nobleness.

KC

One of the larger French hunting hounds with aristocratic long head, characteristic head markings and distinctive colour.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

:

KC

Highly developed sense of smell and deep bay.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT

:

FCI

Very fine nose; endowed with a sonorous howling voice, with deep tones. Very intent in his way of hunting. Instinctively a pack hound. Temperament calm; obeys orders easily.

KC

Gentle and kind.

HEAD

:

KC

Large, long and distinguished. Occiput pronounced. Slight stop, loose skin covering head and forming one or two wrinkles along cheeks, lips pendulous and well pigmented. Black palate. Excessive loose skin to be penalised.

CRANIAL REGION

:

Skull

:

FCI

Seen from the front, slightly domed and not too broad; the occipital protuberance is marked. Seen from above, the back of the skull is ogival in shape. The forehead is full.

Stop

:

FCI

Slightly accentuated.

FACIAL REGION

:

Nose

:

FCI

Black, well developed; nostrils well opened.

Muzzle

:

FCI

Of equal length to that of the skull; strong; nasal bridge slightly arched.

KC

Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Lips

:

FCI

Quite drooping, covering well the lower jaw, giving the front part of the muzzle a square profile. The corner of the lips is well marked without being loose.

Ears

:

KC

Set below the eyeline, fine, curled in, ending in a point and extending to just beyond the tip of nose when drawn forward.

Leathers

:

FCI

Characteristic of the « blue dog » they are fine, curled in, ending in a point and must reach beyond the extremity of the nose. The leather is narrow at its base which is situated well below the eyeline.

NECK

:

FCI

Moderately long; slightly arched; dewlap developed.

KC

Medium length, rounded, carrying moderate dewlap.

BODY

:

KC

Chest well developed, being long, wide and deep. Ribs moderately rounded; back rather long and muscular. Flanks deep and wide.

Back

:

FCI

Rather long but well supported (firm).

Loin

:

FCI

Well fused.

Croup

:

FCI

Slightly sloping, emphasizing the haunches.

Chest

Flank

:

FCI

Flat and well let down.

TAIL

:

FCI

Rather thick, sometimes there may be some longer and coarser, slightly offstanding hairs (like ears of grain) towards the tip; reaching the point of the hock; strong at its root; carried sabre fashion.

KC

(Stern) Well set on, rather thick, fairly long and carried sickle fashion.

LIMBS

:

FOREQUARTERS

:

FCI

Powerful forehand.

KC

Strong, straight and well boned. Elbows close to body, shoulders well laid and muscular.

Shoulder

:

FCI

Quite long and muscled, well sloping.

Elbow

:

FCI

Close to the body.

FORELEGS

:

Forearm

:

FCI

Strong bone structure; tendons prominent.

FEET

:

KC

Long, oval, deep and well padded.

Forefeet

:

FCI

Of a slight elongated oval; toes lean and tight. Pads and nails black.

GAIT / MOVEMENT

SKIN

COAT

:

HAIR

:

FCI

Short, quite thick; very dense.

KC

Smooth, weather resistant and not too short.

COLOUR

:

FCI

Entirely mottled (black and white) giving a slate blue colouring effect; either marked or not with more or less extended black patches. Two black patches are generally placed at either side of the head, covering the leathers, surrounding the eyes and stopping at the cheeks. They do not meet up on the top of the skull; they leave a white interval in the middle of which there is often a small black oval spot, typical of the breed.
Two more or less bright tan markings are placed above the superciliary arches giving a « quatreoeillé » appearance to the eyes. There are also traces of tan on the cheeks, lips, inner face of the leathers, on the legs and under the tail.

KC

Black marked on a white base but covered entirely with black mottling which gives a blue appearance. Two black marks are found on head, covering each ear, enveloping eyes and stopping at cheeks. Blaze also mottled, but a small black mark is often found on skull, a characteristic of the breed. Above each eye a spot of tan gives breed ‘four-eyed’ effect. Tan marks also found on cheeks, lips, inside ears, on legs and under tail. Some hounds completely mottled, but always have required tan marks.

SIZE

Height at withers

:

FCI

Males 65 to 72 cm.
Females 62 to 68 cm.

FAULTS

:

FCI

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.